Opinion: Letter to the Editor: To End Epidemic of Violence

Once again, Americans are faced with the news of another horrific mass shooting, this time in Las Vegas. A lone gunman killed at least 58 people and injured more than 400 others, many critically.

The League of Women Voters of Virginia expresses our heartfelt concern and hopes for the loved ones of the victims and the survivors. We will continue to work to end the epidemic of violence. But the calls to wait and gather the facts before taking substantive steps on gun violence is a familiar ruse. There are facts we know today. Every day, 93 Americans die from a gunshot. Americans are 25 times more likely to die from gun violence compared to people from other industrialized countries.

Like every other public health epidemic, we need to look at what is most effective to prevent gun violence overall. There are proven solutions that work like expanding background checks to all private gun sales sold online and at gun shows, prohibiting dangerous people, like domestic abusers, terrorists and those with mental illness, from accessing guns – that will make our communities safer and save lives.

We cannot continue with the status quo. The League will honor the lives lost and those shattered and scarred, with our unwavering commitment to work to change laws and attitudes to end gun violence in our communities.